U.S. Jan. durable goods orders plunge 10.2%

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - New orders for U.S.-made durable goods plunged 10.2% in January as aircraft orders dried up after three months of strength, the Commerce Department reported Friday. The decline was the largest since July 2000 and far exceeded the 2.5% drop expected by economists. Aircraft orders fell 68.2% in January after averaging more than three times the normal level from October through December. Total transportation orders fell 31.2%. Bookings were healthier elsewhere in the durable goods industries, but the performance was mixed across sectors. Excluding transportation goods, total orders rose 0.6%. Core capital equipment orders fell 0.4%